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	Diocese Considers Appeal of Sexual Abuse Ruling By Shirley Ragsdale Des Moines Register [Iowa] September 20, 2006 http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060920/LIFE05/609200353/1039/LIFE A day after a Scott County District Court jury awarded a Davenport man $1.5 million in damages, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport was considering what to do next. "I really have nothing to report about whether there will be an appeal," said Rand Wonio of Davenport, the lawyer for the diocese. In a unanimous verdict Monday, jurors found the diocese negligent and awarded $1,536,800 to D. Michl Uhde, who alleged he was sexually abused by the late Monsignor Thomas Feeney, who later became vicar general of the Davenport Diocese, the second-ranking official in the diocese. The abuse began in 1957, when Uhde was 7 and was an altar boy at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. The sexual abuse continued for six years, Uhde claimed. Although Uhde sued for $2.3 million, the verdict was twice the $744,000 amount suggested during the trial by Uhde's attorney, Craig Levien of Davenport. Following the verdict, the diocese issued a statement that disclosed that it has limited insurance to pay the judgment and that bankruptcy must be considered. The diocese continues to maintain it had no knowledge of Feeney's alleged sexual misconduct that may have taken place more than 40 years ago. The diocese also asserts that the statute of limitations on Uhde's claim expired many years ago. Thus, appealing the verdict is an option, the diocese said.
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